A mobile phone caught fire and “scorched the cabin” aboard a British Airways flight bound for Las Vegas, according to authorities.
Incident Details
Flight 271 from London landed at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas at around 2.30pm local time on Monday after a crew member reported a mobile phone fire on board. In audio obtained by CBS, the pilot can be heard saying over the speakers that the inside of the cabin was scorched, but that sparks were under control. No injuries were reported.
Investigation
It is unclear how the fire started and what model the phone was. A spokesperson for British Airways said that the flight “landed safely and customers disembarked normally.” “The safety of our customers and crew is the highest priority,” they added. An investigation has now been opened by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Rising Incidents
According to the FAA, incidents of electronic gadgets emitting smoke, catching fire, or generating extreme heat on flights have reached historically high levels, driven by the sheer volume of lithium-ion batteries carried by passengers. The FAA verified 93 air incidents in 2025, up from the previous record of 89 incidents in 2024. Since tracking began in 2006, the FAA has verified more than 670 individual events involving lithium batteries in cabins or cargo holds.
